Outdoor Life

SecularMotion

(7,981 posts) Fri Dec 30, 2016, 12:09 PM Dec 2016

Hunters urged to switch to copper ammo after bald eagle dies of lead poisoning

The veterinarian and founder of the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is frustrated after a bald eagle died Tuesday from lead poisoning that measured at "over maximum toxicity" levels.

The sick bird, believed to be a female, was found by a Department of Natural Resources worker in Cape Breton and rushed by a relay of volunteers to Helene Van Doninck's eagle pen in Hilden, N.S, on Christmas Eve.

"It was in bad shape," said Van Doninck, a specialist in the rehabilitation of birds of prey. "It was cold, and skinny, and not moving, and breathing funny, and doing all the lead signs."

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/nova-scotia/hunters-copper-ammo-cape-breaton-eagle-lead-poisoning-1.3914901

4 replies

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Hunters urged to switch to copper ammo after bald eagle dies of lead poisoning (Original Post) SecularMotion Dec 2016 OP

Copper or steel would be a good alternative, but ... JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2016 #1

It surprises me that lead shot is still allowed in places for hunting. ManiacJoe Dec 2016 #2

Lead free ammo is coming more common gejohnston Dec 2016 #3

There a federal law DashOneBravo Dec 2016 #4

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,735 posts)

1. Copper or steel would be a good alternative, but ...

Reply to SecularMotion (Original post)

Fri Dec 30, 2016, 03:39 PM

Dec 2016

it would have to be for fishing as well as hunting.

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)

2. It surprises me that lead shot is still allowed in places for hunting.

Reply to SecularMotion (Original post)

Fri Dec 30, 2016, 06:55 PM

Dec 2016

gejohnston

(17,502 posts)

3. Lead free ammo is coming more common

Reply to SecularMotion (Original post)

Fri Dec 30, 2016, 10:07 PM

Dec 2016

including self-defense ammo for pistols. IIRC, the US military, if not NATO adopted lead-free.
IIRC, steel shot is required in the US for waterfowl under federal law and will soon be required for all species under California law. I don't don't know if the waterfowl reg is under the Migratory Bird Treaty or not, but the ammo is available and reasonably priced in Canada.
http://www.cabelas.ca/category/steel-non-toxic-shotgun-shells/924

Somebody needs to write their provincial MP.

DashOneBravo

(2,679 posts)

4. There a federal law

Reply to SecularMotion (Original post)

Sat Dec 31, 2016, 10:52 AM

Dec 2016

For using lead free ammo for waterfowl on government land. (May be everywhere ) I know they are very strict around here even checking out your bags.

But people still dove hunt with lead shot.

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